Comeback kid... Again

So I picked up the new fight night game and once again I'm impressed with the people at ea sports.

Before I get to that.. Let me tell you a story.

Back in '04 when knockout kings became fight night I picked up the sticks and was baffled by the new control scheme and I didn't know how to recover from a knock-down. Simply said, I wasn't very good and I had to use the face buttons.  Now because of my handicap I worked hard at the buttons and learned how to not get knocked down.  I thought I was getting pretty good... Turns out using the face buttons when all your friends use the stocks makes you the odd man out. You see .. None of my friends could knock me down and blamed my button using for my victories.  They were getting really mad too. Soon they got bitter and called me names and wanted to find another aspect of gaming to beat me in. I felt stupid for even thinking I was any good...

...Until Fight night round 2 debuted. I didn't play it too heavily but I got used to the sticks and got good with throwing the heymakers. So I turned up the difficulty a little.  Then... Round three comes out and I start a winning steal that spanned years and was only ended because you can't stay unbeaten forever. But I got really good. By round 4 I'm playing it on the hardest difficulty and handing the computer its ass. Turns out that I have peaked and I am now back to square one.

Fight Night Champion is whipping me into shape in a whole new way. I actually have to relearn a large chunk my skills. My timing is all off.  Things just are not the same. But I'll persevere. The fights are way more intense and my power punches don't connect like they used to so every fight I have to dig deeper and play harder because even the training exercises get harder and I'm not any good at any of them yet. Everything is such an uphill trek from here. But with these online gyms being what they are I'm sure somebody will train this former champ

JG

Ps. Not a bad entry considering I wrote it using public transit.

Droid styles

Alright so now that I have this droid and it's ridiculously easy to write with... I can now drop nuggets of truth in remote locations provided there is a signal.

I'm sure I'll figure out some way too put this til good use.

In truth I've been out of the gaming loop for a little bit and been a huge epic fail in releasing episode 4 of the show so this android should help me organized and stay in contact with everything. I'll be takin tons of notes and making a bunch of tweets so stay tuned.

Will I stick with Sony?

PS3 is bar-none my pick for winner of this generation simply by endurance.  A lot of fights don’t end the way you want them to because one of the fighters was built to last. Such is that of the 360 vs PS3.   Unless Microsoft fuel injects something into the 360 soon, I don’t know how they’ll keep that thing in the spotlight past 2012.

They may just have to leapfrog Sony AGAIN next cycle. . . And I might be the first to champion them. Why? Easy.  The 1st Xbox ate the face off a PS2… the PS2 just had a deeper fanbase and broader library. I don’t think Microsoft even considered themselves a contender to win the console war. PS2 is the king.  But secretly everybody was noticing that the Xbox … was prettier. (Because if was developed LATER) so naturally the 360 picked up a lot of deserved steam.

Then Sony whipped it out and said soups on and now it’s 2011 and it’s starting to go the other way.  The PS3 is becoming the Xbox of this generation… But… should the 360 try to leapfrog PS3 again this console should last into 2020 … but will be early by 2 years as Sony probably wants to keep the PS3 around till 2015ish. So what is Microsoft gonna do for the next 2 years?  Figure out how to pull a Sony is what…  So next console cycle they’ll have the elite future proofed system whose entire medium wont be obsolete a year and a half into it’s lifespan (Don’t think I didn’t notice).  Where does Sony go from the PS3 when it still has so much left to do?  It all depends on where Sony and Microsoft stand with their next systems.  I’m definitely more fond of my PS3 (OBVIOUSLY) but for online/co-op (My passion.) I can’t help notice the 360 is on top of it.

JG

Dev Blog 5 – Location then population

(Future entrance to the Multiplayer arenas)

(Future site of middle class residences as well as a club/bar)

The above picture is a REEEEEEEEALLY early snap of the area. But every screenshot I’ve posted so far as been of an area I’m referring to as “The Crossroads” which is the hub of the entre game world.

The game has started to take on a life of its own and I find myself considering a lot more than I thought. For instance, there is a really good “Sackbot Checkpoint” going around. Now I think do I utilize it? or do I push forward with the checkpoint system I had planned for?

The game keeps growing but I think it is for the better. I don’t see “The Crossroads” expanding any further (until an expansion pack) so I’ll be populating it and moving closer to that damn beta very soon. I’m actually considering some sort of closed beta.

Again, these screenshots shouldn’t reflect the final product. This is looking pretty good. There is a persistent world MMO aspect happening and I’m still figuring everything out. I wont give up on making it multiplayer/co-op

JG

Surrogate Assassins Dev Blog #4

I know it has been a little while between updates so I tried to make this one meatier.

For the past two weeks I’ve said I was gonna aim for a beta on Saturday.  (I’ve also promised to upload episode 4 of the Jaded Gamer show – Oops – I will, its just complicated) And I thought I would definitely have some sort of beta.  But the game got more complex. Back when I thought I’d have a playable version, I thought the game would hinge on one game mechanic but as it evolved it became so much more.

(Very ugly beta of the quest giving system.  Would you like to accept this quest? Then select the green highlighted option… if not… Red means “cancel”  When it’s completed properly it will look more fitting.  Now it is just coloured squares.)

The area to the left used to be pure stone till I hollowed it out and now its going to be… something.

(Before and after shots of what I call “kill houses” these are houses/structures that your surrogate cannot “see through” that are there purely to “kill” AI sprites so they respawn) Simply put… any house you cannot see your player in, will kill you. Think of it as home security against your surrogate.

  Early build of the Assassin guild’s heaquarters. *Note the “see-thru” aesthetic on the structure. This may change.

It is very hard to tell but the player is levitating that brown/rusty looking square. Holding down R2 (*subject to change) initiates telekinesis. Telekinesis can be used to crush your opponent with debris or possibly throw your opponent.

Again… Very difficult to tell… but the player is free floating/levitating.  Hitting L2 initiates levitation.  Since this is a “gamebreaker” ability, an annoying sound effect has been added to help prevent abuse. If this does not detour it…than a time limit on levitation will be used. But for now… I’m gonna see what happens.

Anyways… Everything in this game is beta…. however… within the next few updates I’ll offer an outlook on things like character/plot… etc. etc. 

I know I’ve been calling this game Surrogate Assassins but the correct title is (Non-Officially) Surrogate: Assassin…  Its a small edit … but theoretically the name of the franchise is “surrogate” and every spin off or sub story is a method of employment. . . a la… Surrogate: Thief… Surrogate: Soldier…  Stay tuned in the coming weeks as things are becoming more and more official.

JG

Surrogate Assassins Dev Blog #3

Another small update. 

Here’s a snap of the single layered homes with a lighting pass and a rooftop connection  

I’ll be adding small hideaways within any stone walls.  This one I think will be turned into a bar

Surrogate Assassins Dev Blog #2 – Mo Healthbars, Mo Problems

 

If you’re viewing this as an import note on Facebook click on this link or go to http://www.TheJadedGamer.tk

Small healthbars on neutral citizens.  Regular healthbar on player. 

 

Separate healthbars for player and surrogate.  (Bars are functional but largely untested)